Houston takes on Los Angeles, seeks to break 4-game slide

Posted December 28, 2021 6:00 am

By The Associated Press

Los Angeles Lakers (16-18, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (10-24, 15th in the Western Conference)

Houston; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rockets -4.5; over/under is 228.5

BOTTOM LINE: Houston will try to end its four-game slide when the Rockets take on Los Angeles.

The Rockets are 4-13 in Western Conference games. Houston is 4-3 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 16.6 turnovers per game.

The Lakers are 8-12 in Western Conference play. Los Angeles is 8-4 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 15.4 turnovers per game.

The teams square off for the third time this season. The Lakers won the last meeting on Nov. 3. LeBron James scored 30 points to help lead the Lakers to the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Wood is scoring 17.1 points per game with 10.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Rockets. Eric Gordon is averaging 15.3 points and 1.1 rebounds while shooting 51.9% over the last 10 games for Houston.

Anthony Davis is scoring 23.3 points per game and averaging 9.9 rebounds for the Lakers. James is averaging 29.5 points and 8.2 rebounds over the last 10 games for Los Angeles.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 2-8, averaging 108.9 points, 40.1 rebounds, 24.4 assists, 7.6 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.9 points per game.

Lakers: 4-6, averaging 105.8 points, 45.7 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 8.0 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.6 points.

INJURIES: Rockets: Garrison Mathews: out (health and safety protocols), Jae'Sean Tate: out (health protocols), KJ Martin Jr.: out (health protocols), D.J. Augustin: out (health and safety protocols).

Lakers: Anthony Davis: out (knee), Austin Reaves: out (health and safety protocols), Trevor Ariza: out (health and safety protocols), Kent Bazemore: out (health and safety protocols), Rajon Rondo: out (health and safety protocols), Kendrick Nunn: out (knee), LeBron James: day to day (abdominal).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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